DMHAS Housing Program Coordinator

State of Connecticut - DMHAS SW Mental Health; Bridgeport (CT); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

State employee benefits

Professional growth and development

Healthy work-life balance

Job summary

State of Connecticut - DMHAS SW Mental Health is seeking a Housing Program Coordinator to support 400 chronically homeless households with behavioral health needs, coordinating housing subsidies, inspections, and housing contracts in Bridgeport, CT.

The role requires coordinating with clinicians, landlords, and case managers, maintaining HMIS records, and ensuring compliance with HUD and state requirements. Strong collaboration and data management skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Six (6) years of experience coordinating housing programs for persons with behavioral health needs.
• Experience reviewing HUD CoC rental assistance vouchers and HQS inspections.
• Ability to manage HMIS data and provide liaison between clinicians, property managers and landlords.
• Knowledge of HUD/state/federal housing requirements.
• Experience with budgeting and managing housing subsidies.
• Bi-lingual Spanish and English is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Work independently and as a team to support 400 chronically homeless households toward stable housing.
• Review HUD CoC vouchers and HQS inspections for safety and habitability.
• Serve as primary contact between clinicians, property managers and landlords.
• Maintain HMIS database with enrollments, exits and annual assessments.
• Monitor rent payments to landlords and support grant utilization.
• Provide guidance to staff or agencies involved in rental or supportive housing.
• Participate in CAN committees and workgroups.
• Refer clients to employment services and case management as needed.
• Maintain client files per HUD guidelines.
• Contribute to program improvements and other related duties.

Skills

Housing program coordination

Liaison with landlords

Data management (HMIS)

Contract and compliance knowledge

Budgeting & grant management

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in public administration, housing, urban development, or related field

Job description

Introduction

Are you dedicated to expanding housing access and strengthening community supports? Join our team and help lead impactful, quality-driven housing coordination for individuals with behavioral health needs.

THE POSITION

The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is currently accepting applications for the position of Housing Program Coordinator.

HIGHLIGHTS

• FACILITY: Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System (SWCMHS)
• LOCATION: 100 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport, CT
• UNIT: Rental Assistant Program
• POSITION NUMBERS: 00154371
• SCHEDULE: Full-time (40 hours per week), First Shift, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• Visit our State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees

IN THIS ROLE YOU WILL:

• Work independently and as a team member to perform technical tasks to support 400 chronically homeless households with behavioral health needs through the goal of maintaining stable permanent housing
• Responsible for reviewing and processing the HUD CoC rental assistance vouchers, completing the Housing Quality Standard (HQS) Inspections for safety standards and inhabitability, completing annual recertifications and on-site visits to conduct re-assessments as required
• Serve as primary point of contact between clinicians, property managers, case managers and landlords regarding tenancy matters, ensure all program plans and housing contracts conform to federal (HUD) state and departmental statutory requirements
• Maintain HMIS database with timely enrollment, exits and annual assessments
• Utilize internal database to monitor and track rent payments to landlords and assist with grant utilization to ensure program effectiveness
• Provide guidance to staff or agencies involved in low-income, rental or supportive housing programs
• Perform program activities accurately, with flexibility and ability to work as part of a team with excellent time management skills
• Serve on CAN (Coordinated Access Network) committees and workgroups
• Make referrals for employment services and case management as deemed necessary and appropriate
• Maintain and update client files and electronic documents per HUD guidelines
• Case conference participants, particularly those who are challenging themselves to remain housed / need higher level of care or are terminated from the program due to repeated lease violations or noncompliance with program requirements
• Perform other program related activities as required

OUR MISSION:

DMHAS is a health care agency whose mission is to promote the overall health and wellness of persons with behavioral health needs through an integrated network of holistic, comprehensive, effective and efficient services and supports that foster dignity, respect and self-sufficiency in those we serve.

The Southwest Connecticut Mental Health System strives to provide high quality, compassionate and culturally competent mental health and substance abuse services to adults with behavioral health disorders who are indigent. With three locations throughout Fairfield County, SWCMHS, promotes and administers comprehensive recovery oriented services in the areas of mental health treatment and substance abuse prevention and treatment. These services include inpatient treatment programs and outpatient clinical services, as well as a wide range of additional supportive treatment services.

PLEASE NOTE:

• A comprehensive medical examination, including a drug screening, will be required of all applicants upon a conditional offer of employment.
• All state employees must adhere to Connecticut's Policy for a Drug Free Workplace.

Selection Plan

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Reviews, analyzes and processes housing financial assistance program grant and referral applications, budgets, program plans, contracts and revisions to ensure accuracy and conformity with federal, state and departmental requirements;
• Reviews and processes applications for subsidized housing vouchers and other entities;
• Performs inspections and re-certifications, reviews and evaluations to determine quality of program operation, conformance with program plan and effectiveness;
• Prepares clear, technically sound and comprehensive statistical, financial, budget, progress and other reports;
• Meets with officials and groups to explain and interpret department programs and expectations to meet established programmatic goals;
• Coordinates activities of department with other community, regional, state, federal and private agencies;
• May serve on committees and work groups;
• May provide technical assistance to staff and/or agencies involved in housing programs including such program areas as low income, rental and supportive housing;
• May serve as liaison with Case Managers, agency administrative staff, property managers, landlords, service providers and attorneys on housing matters;
• May maintain and monitor program budget and complete related paperwork;
• May monitor the status of payment requests and rent subsidy payments;
• May develop and implement housing training programs;
• May make program referrals;
• May maintain housing data on internal database;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of federal, state and community resources available in the area of housing;
• Knowledge of problems and programs of housing including permanent supportive housing and other housing related activities;
• social and economic factors, issues and programs related to housing;
• techniques of social, economic and governmental research related to housing;
• Considerable interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communications skills;
• Considerable ability to plan, analyze and evaluate housing programs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Six (6) years of experience providing housing program coordination for persons with behavioral health needs or programmatic and/or financial monitoring of supportive and/or subsidized housing programs or technical assistance to local agencies concerned with housing related issues of persons with behavioral health needs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equaling one half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree in business or public administration, housing, urban development or other closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with state and federal housing funding sources.
• Experience housing homeless clients and conducting housing inspections utilizing HUD guidelines.
• Experience preparing budgets and managing housing subsidies.
• Experience processing housing applications and serving as a liaison with landlords and property managers regarding lease completion.
• Experience working with individuals with severe and persistent mental illness.
• Experience using the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) database.
• Bi-lingual Spanish and English speaking, with oral and written communications skills in both languages.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to speak a foreign language.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.